Chapter 4:

Purpose and

TopicOral Communications

Ms. Malsberger

PURPOSE

What is the difference between a

presentation’s PURPOSE and TOPIC?

Which answers why?

Which answers what?

PURPOSE

Determine Your

Speaking GOAL!

Purpose Statement Worksheet*

Informative: To instruct, explain, describe,

Persuasive: To change audience

opinions and/or behavior

Public VS Private Purposes

What is the difference between a

speaker’s public purpose and a private

purpose?

Your Purpose Statement

Your purpose statement clearly declares

the overall goal of your presentation.

Effective purpose statements are:

Specific

Achievable

Relevant

Questions for Choosing a

Topic

What type of presentation is assigned or

appropriate?

What topics interest me?

What do I value?

What do I know about these topics?

What will appeal to my audience?

What do Audience Members

REALLY need to know?

Need to know

Should Know

Nice to Know

Effective Purpose Statements

A. Specific

Example: Eat smarter so you’ll be healthier, happier, and more productive

B. Achievable

Example: Research identifies four foods that promote better health.

C. Relevant

Example: Begin the task of making eating healthier a lifelong habit.

Write a Purpose Statement

Write an effective purpose statement that

incorporates the following goals:

Eat healthier foods on a regular basis.

Eat the four foods that promote better

health.

Eat smarter and you’ll be healthier, happier,

and more energetic.

Purpose Statement

Multiple Choice Question

Which presentation purpose statement is

the most specific, achievable, and

relevant?

a. Believe in God and save your soul.

b. Rich countries should give more foreign

aid to countries with starving populations.

c. Join a study group.

d. Sign up as an organ donor when you

renew your driver’s license.

*Purpose Statement Worksheet

Informative Speeches

Instruct, Explain, Describes, Demonstrates

Teachers spend most of their time informing

students

Can be an oral report to a committee

Formal lecture to a large audience

Non-Controversial

Sharing Information

Persuasive Speeches

Attempts to change the audience’s

opinions and or behavior

Advertisers try to persuade customers to

buy their products

Political candidates persuade audiences to

elect them

Courtroom arguments, religious services,

daily conversations

Convince an audience to take action

Entertainment Speeches

Often takes place in an informal setting

Amuse, interest, or warm up an audience

Stand-up Comedy

Retirement party “roasts”

Inspirational Speeches

Brings like-minded people together,

creates social unity, builds goodwill

Toasts

Eulogies

Motivational

Welcomes

Matching Question

A. Informative

B. Persuasive

C. Entertainment

D. Inspirational

___ To change audience behavior

___ To create social unity, motivate, excite

___ To interest, divert, please

____ To instruct, clarify, demonstrate, explain

A

B

D

C

Informative and/or

Persuasive?

Understanding Darwin’s theory of evolution

The Big Bang Theory is the best explanation for

the creation of the universe

Explaining why broccoli, salmon, and flax

seed are recommended for a healthy diet

Eat Broccoli!

How to apply Maslow’s Hierarchy of Needs to

persuasive speaking

I

I, P

I

P

P

Narrow Your Topic*

Consider the topic areas listed in the 1st

column on the following table.

All of them are much too broad for a class

presentation

Select a more narrow topic – one that can be

covered in a short, classroom presentation

Write a SPECIFIC, ACHIEVABLE, and RELEVANT purpose statement

Chapter 4 Assignment

Ask Yourself Questions on Page 91

Complete Guided Notes Worksheet

Have an approved Topic and Purpose

Statement for your Informative

Presentation

Chapter 5

Ask Yourself Questions on Pg. 107